One another, 21C

August 24, 2025

Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117 (116); Hebrews 12:5-7; Luke 13:22-30

Friends in Christ, God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the church and the world:

For the Church: that we may draw close to Christ, who is the gate into eternal life and the way to wholeness: let us pray to the Lord.

For spiritual growth: that Spirit will help us implement disciplines that will deepen our knowledge and love of God and increase our ability to respond to God’s invitations each day: let us pray to the Lord.

For unity in the Body of Christ: that Christians from east and west, north and south, may work together in confronting evil, poverty, and disease so that the Gospel may be made known in deeds as well as words: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are experiencing trials and disciplines: that God will strengthen their spirits and help them to be open to the pruning and renewing work of God’s Word: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are facing difficult choices, particularly about health issues, relationships, or employment: that the Spirit guide them to inner freedom, integrity, and wholeness: let us pray to the Lord.

For grace to enter through the narrow gate: that the Spirit will guide us in living lives of forgiveness, compassion, self-control, and acts of service so that our lives may manifest the reign of God: let us pray to the Lord.

For fortitude: that we may resist the easy path of violence, greed, prejudice, and self-righteousness, and strive to encourage and support one another in following Christ in our unique vocations: let us pray to the Lord.

For courage: that the Spirit will help us hear God’s invitation, respond wholeheartedly to God’s call, and trust that God will provide what seems lacking in our ability: let us pray to the Lord.

For missionaries and aid workers: that God will renew their spirits and give them the resources they need to support and inspire those whom they serve: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are suffering from storms, floods, or wildfires: that God will comfort them, give them strength, and guide them to the resources that they need: let us pray to the Lord.

For all beginning a new school year: that they may grow in knowledge, wisdom, and virtue and be kept safe from all harm in the months ahead: let us pray to the Lord.

For refugees and those fleeing warfare: that God will open a path to safety, provide food and shelter for them, and help them to find acceptance in their new communities: let us pray to the Lord.

For those working to promote racial and inter-religious harmony: that God will guide their efforts and help all to give witness to the dignity of each person: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who feel unworthy of God and fear death: that they may encounter God’s love for them and recognize that God desires life and wholeness for them: let us pray to the Lord.

For peace: that God will heal the divisions in society, bring an end to warfare, help us to speak respectfully of one another, and to pursue the common good: let us pray to the Lord.

Hear our prayers, God of power, and through the ministry of your Son free us from the grip of the tomb, that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025bv, August 24). Twenty-first Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/082425.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

One another, 20C

August 17, 2025

Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10; Ps 40 (39); Hebrews 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53

Friends in Christ, God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers as dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the church and the world:

For the Church: that we may be transformed by the fire of the Spirit into a dynamic community of faith and give witness to God’s abiding presence and action in the world: let us pray to the Lord.

For this community of faith: that the Spirit will raise a sense of urgency within us to share God’s love and mercy with all who have no direction in life: let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace of perseverance: that God will strengthen us in times of conflict and suffering so that we may remain faithful disciples: let us pray to the Lord.

For a renewed inspiration: that as we recall the witness and example of the women and men who have gone before us, we may be inspired to offer witness in our society to the Paschal mystery: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who speak the truth to power: that they may faithfully witness to the truth without succumbing to pride, self-centeredness, or being judgmental: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are suffering for their discipleship: that God give them strength, console them when they are rejected, and help them to respond with love and forgiveness: let us pray to the Lord.

For a spirit of gratitude: that we may appreciate all the gifts that God has given us and become rich in those things that foster life and love: let us pray to the Lord.

For courage: that the Spirit will empower and sustain us even when the fruits of our pursuit of the truth yield division and confusion: let us pray to the Lord.

For families which are divided or in conflict: that God will help them to hear and understand one another and find ways to support each other on life’s journey: let us pray to the Lord.

For all teachers and administrators as they prepare for the coming school year: that God will give them wisdom, patience and understanding for each of the students with whom they will work this year: let us pray to the Lord.

For young people who are heading off to college, particularly those going away for the first time: that God will guide them as they adapt to being on their own and help them to make wise decisions and many new friends: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who work in public safety: that God will guide them in their service and protect them from all harm: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have been impacted by violence or abuse: that God will heal their wounded spirits and memories, help them find places of safety, and help restore a spirit of trust within them: let us pray to the Lord.

For greater understanding of God’s creation: that God will guide us in understanding the interrelationships of our environment and help us be good stewards of creation: let us pray to the Lord.

For all recovering from storms or floods: that God will comfort them in their loss, give them strength, and open the hearts of many to be generous to them: let us pray to the Lord.

Hear our prayers, God of power, and through the ministry of your Son free us from the grip of the tomb, that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025bt, August 17). Twentieth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081725.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

One another, 19C

August 10, 2025

Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33 (32); Hebrew 11:1-2, 8-19; Luke 12:32-48

Friends in Christ, God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothersas dear to us as our own needs. Loving our neighbors as ourselves, we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions on behalf of the church and the world:

For the Church: that God will renew and deepen our faith so that we may be confident that God is always present and accompanies us along each step of our journey: let us pray to the Lord.

For a deeper appreciation of life: that we may celebrate each day as a gift from God and live it fully with our families and loved ones: let us pray to the Lord.

For a deepening of faith: that our hearts may be open to the witness of our friends and mentors who have gone before us and draw strength and courage from them: let us pray to the Lord.

For the grace to remember: that we may be conscious of all the good things that God has done for us and allow them to inspire us to greater generosity: let us pray to the Lord.

For rootedness in God: that we may recognize that our deepest desires can only be fulfilled in relationship with God and thus spend our lives seeking God’s reign: let us pray to the Lord.

For better stewardship: that we may fulfill our responsibilities with love and diligence so that our efforts may glorify God: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who exercise leadership in the Christian community: that they may be watchful and attentive to the signs of God’s movement within the Body of Christ: let us pray to the Lord.

For patience: that we may have the grace to wait upon God, even when answers do not seem clear, and confidently trust in God’s love and providence: let us pray to the Lord.

For the better use of our time: that we may faithfully and diligently use the time that God has given us so that we may be found faithful and bearing much fruit: let us pray to the Lord.

For spiritual freedom: that we may not be held bound by our possessions but see them as gifts from God for our good and that of others: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who have lost faith: that the Spirit of God will renew their hearts and open a new springtime of faith so that they come to a new relationship with the living God: let us pray to the Lord.

For all whose faith is tested, particularly those being persecuted or leaving home for the first time: that they may rely upon God for strength and draw upon the values that they have learned in making decisions: let us pray to the Lord.

For all whom church leaders have abused: that God will heal their painful memories, free their hearts from the wounds and fears they carry, and open new ways for them to grow and live life fully: let us pray to the Lord.

For migrants and refugees: that God will guide them in their search for safety and lead them to communities that are warm and welcoming: let us pray to the Lord.

For all who are in need: that God will give strength to all who have lost homes or possessions in storms and flooding, sustain them as they rebuild their lives, and open the hearts of many to assist them: let us pray to the Lord.

Hear our prayers, God of power, and through the ministry of your Son free us from the grip of the tomb, that we may desire you as the fullness of life and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2025br, August 10). Nineteenth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081025.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.